Advice on SUT for Koetsu Rosewood - EAR MC-4, Slagle/EMIA, other
Montaldo, read this. http://www.kandkaudio.com/applications-guide/ It will back up what Atmasphere has discussed and give you the math to properly load your cartridge. Mike |
Uberwaltz it is very easy to put a transformer in in such a way that the phono amp can be returned to stock and nobody would ever know it had been modified. chakster, Sowter transformers are British and are made like SME stuff. They cost about $100 per transformer which relative to transformers with a shiny face plate and chassis is CHEAP. Uberwaltz just mentioned a used Ortofon for $600! |
Hang on guys, some transformers have multiple taps and others do not. You have to check on the wires coming out of the transformer. Most are color coded. While having multiple taps gives you flexibility. I think but I am not entirely sure that a single ratio transformer is theoretically better. Ralph may be able to comment on this. Sowter has multiple tap transformers but I have always avoided them. May be just a knee jerk assumption. My brain hates unused wires. |
Ralph, you would think the transformers would be designed for a 47K load which is pretty standard for MM phono stages. If not 47K how would you figure out what it was? Just a meter? Also why the capacitor. Wouldn't just a resistor do? I know you might have to change capacitive loading for a MM cartridge but why the transformer? Mike |
Montaldo, it looks like you are facing a trial and error situation. Trying to audition all this stuff is virtually impossible. If it is a higher step up ratio you are looking for the Sowter 9990 unit is 1:20 for 1-15 ohms. They cost about $100 and you will need two of them. Not crazy money at all. The risk is that you might overload your phono stage. If so, you could just put a resistor in series with the secondary. But if you have used a 1:20 transformer and there were no problems you should be all set. I prefer the transformer be internal. I think there is less noise and you don't have to mess with interconnects and two more connections in line. |
Yes Montaldo, Excuse me. Not sure what happened. Here is the right one.
https://www.sowter.co.uk/specs/1480.php This is the version that is specifically meant for your cartridge which has an impedance of 5 ohms. Notice the Bandwidth is higher. I have put these in ARC PH 3s for extremely low output cartridges and the results have been excellent. Any of the great cartridges will work with them, Air Tight, Lyra low output, Ortofon Anna etc. Wiring is simple. Just put a dab of silicone anywhere you have some real estate inside. Press the transformer into it and let it sit over night. You could add a soldering terminal to make the connections but you could also do wire to wire connections covering them with heat shrink tubing which would work just as well. Mike |
Montaldo, I would get two of these,
https://www.sleevecityusa.com/Antistatic-Record-Cleaning-Arm-p/tac-01.htm and wire them directly into your preamp. There is no way you can do better at near the price. These are truly giant killers. Mike |
